This is an attempt to list every species on exhibit at Downtown Aquarium Denver during my visit on 6-5-16. I am arranging the list by the current visitor map by the named zones as they are encountered along its one-way route. I am including species for which there is a sign on each exhibit. This is not intended to be a full account of the collection. Also, species on exhibit are sometimes moved, so some that were there one day may have disappeared from public view the next. This list may be of more interest to those already familiar with the aquarium since I am not arranging the species by animal type. It should be noted that a majority of the aquatic exhibits seemed to have unsigned species in addition to those with signs; I have listed them as 'Fish' in the exhibits that have an especially notable number of unsigned species. All exhibits are indoors.
NORTH AMERICAN WILDERNESS: (10 Exhibits)
These exhibits are within a large glass atrium room with highly-detailed simulated rockwork and temperate forest flora.
Leftside of visitor path:
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Crappie
Sunfish
Turtle (unsigned unidentified species)
Medium-sized open-top aquarium with 2 viewing areas:
Buffalo Fish
Longnose Gar
Spotted Gar
Sturgeon (unidentified species)
Turtle (unsigned unidentified species)
Walleye
Small-sized shallow aquarium set in rockwork above visitor path, viewed from below:
Fish (unsigned unidentified species)
Medium-sized open-top aqaurium:
Kokanee Salmon
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Musky
Pike (unidentified species)
Smallmouth Bass
Medium-sized open-top aquarium with 3 viewing areas:
Arctic Char
Arctic Grayling
Green Sturgeon
Grennback Cutthroat Trout
Rightside of visitor path:
Smallish-sized open-top aquarium:
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Rio Grande Cichlid
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Colorado Pikeminnow
Humpback Chub
Razorback Sucker
Small-sized open-top aquarium:
Rio Grande Chub
Large rocky yard with underwater viewing, 4 viewing areas, and small den behind glass:
North American River Otter
IN THE DESERT: (9 Exhibits)
These exhibits are mostly within a dark cave hallway with detailed simulated sandstone rockwork and a thrilling flashflood demonstration exhibit that contains no live animals.
Large wall aquarium with 2 viewing areas:
Channel Catfish
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Grass Carp
Striped Bass
White Sturgeon
Small-sized open-top aquarium:
Butterfly Splitfin
Pupfish (unidentified species)
Tequila Splitfin
Medium wall terrarium:
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
5 small-sized wall terrariums:
California King Snake
Emerald Tree Boa
Tarantula (unidentified species)
Poison Dart Frog (unidentified species)
Bearded Dragon
Medium-sized tall room with rocky walls and skylights, beach, and shallow medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Bonaparte's Gull
Caspian Tern
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Willet
UNDER THE SEA: (4 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set in a dark hallway with detailed simulated coral reef walls.
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Blackbar Soldierfish
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Pipefish (unsigned unidentified species)
Seahorse (unidentified species)
Large-sized feature aquarium with at least 5 viewing areas and underwater tunnel viewing area:
Bamboo Shark (unidentified species)
Barred Flagtail
Bluespotted Stingray
Creolefish
Crevalle Jack
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Giant Grouper (unidentified species)
Graybar Grunt
Green Moray Eel
Horse-eye Jack
Nurse Shark
Passer Angel
Red Drum
Tarpon
Yellowtail Snapper
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Popeye Catalufa
Scythe Butterflyfish
AT THE WHARF: (6 Exhibits)
These exhibits are in a small area detailed with pier pilings and rustic seaside shack wood siding, and are open to the building's large bright entry hall.
Rightside of visitor path:
Small-sized pedestal aquarium:
Lumpfish
Medium-sized round aquarium with pop-up visitor bubble window:
Cabezon
Leopard Shark
Rockfish
Surfperch
Swell Shark
Wolf Eel
Small-sized pedestal aquarium:
California Sea Cucumber
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Sea Anemone (unidentified species)
Sea Star (unidentified species)
Sea Urchin (unidentified species)
Leftside of visitor path:
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Potbelly Seahorse
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Grunt Sculpin
Silver-spot Sculpin
Spot Prawn
Striped Surfperch
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Decorated Warbonnet
Green Urchin
Painted Greenling
Penpoint Gunnel
THE RAINFOREST: (18 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set within a large glass atrium room with highly-detailed simulated rockwork and a mix of simulated and real tropical flora.
Leftside of visitor path:
2 medium-sized open-top aquariums:
African Cichlids (unidentified species)
Red Belly Piranha
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Arowana
Freshwater Stingrays (unidentified species)
Pacu
Redtail Catfish
Small aviary behind glass:
Hawk-headed Parrot
Medium-sized rocky yard with multiple levels, multiple viewing areas, and medium-sized open-top aquarium/swimming pond:
Fish (unsigned unidentified species)
Sumatran Tiger
2 small-sized pedestal terrariums:
Fire Belly Toad
Horned Frog
Small-sized round column aquarium:
Clownfish (unidentified species)
Sea Anemone (unidentified species)
Rightside of visitor path:
Medium-sized open-top aquarium with 2 viewing areas:
Asian Arowana
Barramundi
Clown Knifefish
Giant Gourami
Tigerfish
Medium-sized wall aquarium:
Ghost Catfish
Rainbowfish
Medium-sized open-top aqaurium with rocky shelf:
Asian Yellow Pond Turtle
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Malayan Box Turtle
Painted Terrapin
Spotted Pond Turtle
Small-sized wire aviary:
Blue and Gold Macaw
2 tiny-sized wall aquariums:
Upside-down Jelly
Crown of Thorns Sea Star
Small-sized open-top touchtank:
Chocolate Chip Sea Star
Crab (unidentified species)
Snail (unidentified species)
Urchin (unidentified species)
2 tiny-sized wall aquariums:
Brittle Star (unidentified species)
Mantis Shrimp
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Archerfish
Four-eyed Fish
CORAL LAGOON: (2 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set in a dim round room painted with an island scene mural.
Leftside of visitor path:
Medium-sized shallow open-top aquarium:
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Rightside of visitor path:
Medium-sized shallow open-top aquarium:
Blue Hamlet
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Rockmover Wrasse
SUNKEN TEMPLE: (4 Exhibits)
These exhibits are in a dark hallway with simulated stone masonry walls. Note that the first viewing area of the large feature exhibit in the next section, 'Shipwreck' is seen here but I will include it only in the next section.
Small-sized shelf aquarium:
Hawkfish
Long-spined Black Sea Urchin
Spider Crab
Medium-sized wall aquarium:
Coral Grouper
Yellow Margin Moray
Medium-sized wall aquarium:
Coral (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Medium-sized wall aquarium:
Lionfish
SHIPWRECK: (4 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set within a large dark room that simulates an old wooden shipwreck.
Large-sized feature aquarium with at least 5 viewing areas and several round windows set in floor:
Barracuda
Brown Shark
Circular Batfish
East Pacific Green Sea Turtle
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Green Sawfish
Sand Tiger Shark
Zebra Shark
3 small-sized wall aquariums:
Brown Sea Nettle
Moon Jellyfish
Moon Jellyfish
AT THE BEACH: (3 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set in a chaotic area of sloppy grass-shack tropical theming and a large lagoon wall mural, in a large room that is open to the building's large bright entry hall.
Large-sized shallow open-top touchtank:
Cownose Ray
Southern Stingray
Medium-sized pedestal aquarium:
Giant Pacific Octopus
Medium-sized pedestal aquarium:
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Wolf Eel
AQUARIUM RESTUARANT: (2 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set within one simulated reef wall in a large 2-story modern dim space that is a table-service restaurant.
Large-sized wall aquarium for small tropical fish with 2 viewing areas:
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Large-sized wall aquarium for larger tropical fish with at least 4 viewing areas:
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
SUMMARY:
By my count, the total number of exhibits currently at Downtown Aquarium Denver is: 62
By my count, the total number of species in permanent exhibits with identification signs is: 123 (actual number is probably far greater, their website claims they have over 500 species)
The number of species I counted can be broken down into the following categories:
Mammals: 2
Birds: 5
Reptiles: 12
Amphibians: 3
Fish: 90 (this is the category that is probably far greater than signed)
Invertebrates: 11 (this category is probably considerably greater than signed)
NORTH AMERICAN WILDERNESS: (10 Exhibits)
These exhibits are within a large glass atrium room with highly-detailed simulated rockwork and temperate forest flora.
Leftside of visitor path:
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Crappie
Sunfish
Turtle (unsigned unidentified species)
Medium-sized open-top aquarium with 2 viewing areas:
Buffalo Fish
Longnose Gar
Spotted Gar
Sturgeon (unidentified species)
Turtle (unsigned unidentified species)
Walleye
Small-sized shallow aquarium set in rockwork above visitor path, viewed from below:
Fish (unsigned unidentified species)
Medium-sized open-top aqaurium:
Kokanee Salmon
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Musky
Pike (unidentified species)
Smallmouth Bass
Medium-sized open-top aquarium with 3 viewing areas:
Arctic Char
Arctic Grayling
Green Sturgeon
Grennback Cutthroat Trout
Rightside of visitor path:
Smallish-sized open-top aquarium:
Alligator Snapping Turtle
Rio Grande Cichlid
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Colorado Pikeminnow
Humpback Chub
Razorback Sucker
Small-sized open-top aquarium:
Rio Grande Chub
Large rocky yard with underwater viewing, 4 viewing areas, and small den behind glass:
North American River Otter
IN THE DESERT: (9 Exhibits)
These exhibits are mostly within a dark cave hallway with detailed simulated sandstone rockwork and a thrilling flashflood demonstration exhibit that contains no live animals.
Large wall aquarium with 2 viewing areas:
Channel Catfish
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Grass Carp
Striped Bass
White Sturgeon
Small-sized open-top aquarium:
Butterfly Splitfin
Pupfish (unidentified species)
Tequila Splitfin
Medium wall terrarium:
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
5 small-sized wall terrariums:
California King Snake
Emerald Tree Boa
Tarantula (unidentified species)
Poison Dart Frog (unidentified species)
Bearded Dragon
Medium-sized tall room with rocky walls and skylights, beach, and shallow medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Bonaparte's Gull
Caspian Tern
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Willet
UNDER THE SEA: (4 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set in a dark hallway with detailed simulated coral reef walls.
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Blackbar Soldierfish
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Pipefish (unsigned unidentified species)
Seahorse (unidentified species)
Large-sized feature aquarium with at least 5 viewing areas and underwater tunnel viewing area:
Bamboo Shark (unidentified species)
Barred Flagtail
Bluespotted Stingray
Creolefish
Crevalle Jack
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Giant Grouper (unidentified species)
Graybar Grunt
Green Moray Eel
Horse-eye Jack
Nurse Shark
Passer Angel
Red Drum
Tarpon
Yellowtail Snapper
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Popeye Catalufa
Scythe Butterflyfish
AT THE WHARF: (6 Exhibits)
These exhibits are in a small area detailed with pier pilings and rustic seaside shack wood siding, and are open to the building's large bright entry hall.
Rightside of visitor path:
Small-sized pedestal aquarium:
Lumpfish
Medium-sized round aquarium with pop-up visitor bubble window:
Cabezon
Leopard Shark
Rockfish
Surfperch
Swell Shark
Wolf Eel
Small-sized pedestal aquarium:
California Sea Cucumber
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Sea Anemone (unidentified species)
Sea Star (unidentified species)
Sea Urchin (unidentified species)
Leftside of visitor path:
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Potbelly Seahorse
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Grunt Sculpin
Silver-spot Sculpin
Spot Prawn
Striped Surfperch
Small-sized wall aquarium:
Decorated Warbonnet
Green Urchin
Painted Greenling
Penpoint Gunnel
THE RAINFOREST: (18 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set within a large glass atrium room with highly-detailed simulated rockwork and a mix of simulated and real tropical flora.
Leftside of visitor path:
2 medium-sized open-top aquariums:
African Cichlids (unidentified species)
Red Belly Piranha
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Arowana
Freshwater Stingrays (unidentified species)
Pacu
Redtail Catfish
Small aviary behind glass:
Hawk-headed Parrot
Medium-sized rocky yard with multiple levels, multiple viewing areas, and medium-sized open-top aquarium/swimming pond:
Fish (unsigned unidentified species)
Sumatran Tiger
2 small-sized pedestal terrariums:
Fire Belly Toad
Horned Frog
Small-sized round column aquarium:
Clownfish (unidentified species)
Sea Anemone (unidentified species)
Rightside of visitor path:
Medium-sized open-top aquarium with 2 viewing areas:
Asian Arowana
Barramundi
Clown Knifefish
Giant Gourami
Tigerfish
Medium-sized wall aquarium:
Ghost Catfish
Rainbowfish
Medium-sized open-top aqaurium with rocky shelf:
Asian Yellow Pond Turtle
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Malayan Box Turtle
Painted Terrapin
Spotted Pond Turtle
Small-sized wire aviary:
Blue and Gold Macaw
2 tiny-sized wall aquariums:
Upside-down Jelly
Crown of Thorns Sea Star
Small-sized open-top touchtank:
Chocolate Chip Sea Star
Crab (unidentified species)
Snail (unidentified species)
Urchin (unidentified species)
2 tiny-sized wall aquariums:
Brittle Star (unidentified species)
Mantis Shrimp
Medium-sized open-top aquarium:
Archerfish
Four-eyed Fish
CORAL LAGOON: (2 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set in a dim round room painted with an island scene mural.
Leftside of visitor path:
Medium-sized shallow open-top aquarium:
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Rightside of visitor path:
Medium-sized shallow open-top aquarium:
Blue Hamlet
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Rockmover Wrasse
SUNKEN TEMPLE: (4 Exhibits)
These exhibits are in a dark hallway with simulated stone masonry walls. Note that the first viewing area of the large feature exhibit in the next section, 'Shipwreck' is seen here but I will include it only in the next section.
Small-sized shelf aquarium:
Hawkfish
Long-spined Black Sea Urchin
Spider Crab
Medium-sized wall aquarium:
Coral Grouper
Yellow Margin Moray
Medium-sized wall aquarium:
Coral (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Medium-sized wall aquarium:
Lionfish
SHIPWRECK: (4 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set within a large dark room that simulates an old wooden shipwreck.
Large-sized feature aquarium with at least 5 viewing areas and several round windows set in floor:
Barracuda
Brown Shark
Circular Batfish
East Pacific Green Sea Turtle
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Green Sawfish
Sand Tiger Shark
Zebra Shark
3 small-sized wall aquariums:
Brown Sea Nettle
Moon Jellyfish
Moon Jellyfish
AT THE BEACH: (3 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set in a chaotic area of sloppy grass-shack tropical theming and a large lagoon wall mural, in a large room that is open to the building's large bright entry hall.
Large-sized shallow open-top touchtank:
Cownose Ray
Southern Stingray
Medium-sized pedestal aquarium:
Giant Pacific Octopus
Medium-sized pedestal aquarium:
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Wolf Eel
AQUARIUM RESTUARANT: (2 Exhibits)
These exhibits are set within one simulated reef wall in a large 2-story modern dim space that is a table-service restaurant.
Large-sized wall aquarium for small tropical fish with 2 viewing areas:
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
Large-sized wall aquarium for larger tropical fish with at least 4 viewing areas:
Fish (multiple unsigned unidentified species)
SUMMARY:
By my count, the total number of exhibits currently at Downtown Aquarium Denver is: 62
By my count, the total number of species in permanent exhibits with identification signs is: 123 (actual number is probably far greater, their website claims they have over 500 species)
The number of species I counted can be broken down into the following categories:
Mammals: 2
Birds: 5
Reptiles: 12
Amphibians: 3
Fish: 90 (this is the category that is probably far greater than signed)
Invertebrates: 11 (this category is probably considerably greater than signed)